WSP03032 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

w 00 -J w . clouded by water weeds, bacteria, plants or animals which would cause . a passerby to conclU:de that the water cannot be used for other purposes. Just as people need pure oxygen and clean air to breathe so do the natural communities of streams and lakes need clean water and dissolved oxygen . to function well. One of the more important contaminants found in water from man's standpoint is bacteria and viruses which cause diseases. It doesn't take an expert in water qualityto observe the aesthetic value of . a clean body of water or moving stream. This aesthetic degradation of water quality is often indicative of an increase or decrease in recreational, . agricultural, or commercial value of the water depending on the existing condition. The definition of pollution generally is oriented toward the activities . of society and its subsequent effect on water quality. The first level of des- cription of sources is directed toward control and so two generalized . sources, point sources and diffuse sources, are defined. Point sources generally are smaller in volume than the receiving water, have very high concentrations of the pollutants, and enter the receiving stream or lake . at a specific point. Diffuse sources enter the receiving water at many points and generally are much larger in flow and more dilute than point sources. Diffuse sources generally result from runoff waters being . affected by various land use activities. Also, natural activities contribute materials which affect water quality and there may be times and places . where it makes sense to control these natural sources. Management 2 .